Along the Summer Drive Home by Lu Sobredo

ALONG THE SUMMER DRIVE HOME

Along the drive home rising temperatures were steep and so were the winding roads surrounded by mountains and lakes. Alongside our car were trucks full of hay on the highway. We were often overrun by some sane and not-so-sane drivers. My hubby is a man for all seasons and conditions even as he discovers that growing old is no picnic. The adventurer in him keeps the music playing. As a sailor, he abides by the motto—safety first, safety second and safety last.

Made it home safely after eleven glorious days on the road. I treasured the quiet moments reminiscing about places we visited on our honeymoon 32 years before. They meant so much to us. We decided to celebrate our anniversary a month early while in the same time zone.

This travel by car (thanks sonny for the use of the comfortable Benz SUV) meant long hours on the road staying in lovely places, walking into familiar and newly discovered bakeries and restaurants. And as often the case with hubby, making new friends and conjuring more stories.

We have travelled in many places early on in our life together, he more than I a natural adventurer that he is, and since travel was part of being a professor. And since I was afflicted with a chronic autoimmune condition 12 years ago. I fought back from wheelchair-bound to functionality. I continue to travel while I can walk again on my own and after transcending other life-threatening diagnoses. I walk mostly with the aid of a walking cane now. I have three on hand and a pair of hiking sticks from the days when we walked across parts of Spain on the Camino Frances in the year 2010. That happened at hubby’s encouragement not knowing I was already on the early stages of my illness as the medical specialist explained later.

This post is to make up for the long while since I’ve published a travel/health article. That’s what the disease does—hampers one physically, emotionally and psychically. I have mostly resisted all hurdles. The disease was not going to keep me from socializing with family and friends and from making new friends. I hope people know how much work it takes to even just show up. A smile on my face is hard-fought just as much as staying upright. Pain is my constant companion, a friend of a strange kind, well managed by medication, physical activities and stubborn intentionality and much love from many sources.

Time will not stop and wait for me to have more money to engage in an active life when fully ready. I stay ready to get up and dance where the music takes me. I lay low when I must to recuperate from having too much fun.

We can refill our pockets financially somehow, but we can’t recoup time lost.

Don’t delay, seize the moment. Dress up for no reason. Better yet, create a reason to grow, glow and age with gusto.

Photo Essay (c) Lu Sobredo

Delayed post from last summer's travel, 2025.

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